Education

Since the beginning of the school year, elementary school students have shown progress in reading but have not done as well in math.

That was the result of the winter MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) scores revealed by Lisa Smith, deputy superintendent of Shelby County Public Schools, to the school board at its meeting Thursday night.

The Shelby County Board of Education will take a vote on a proposed new vision for the district at it's meeting on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the district's offices, 1155 Main Street in Shelbyville.

The concept, which focuses on five points – globally effective students, 21st Century professionals, healthy and responsible students, Innovation, and 21st Century Support Systems – was put together by the Strategic Leadership Team and presented to the board by a large group at the Jan. 23 meeting.

Shelby County Public schools offered on Thursday night what Superintendent James Neihof called a “very conservative” early budget for the 2014-15 school year.

The draft budget is a state-mandated review of projected receipts and expenses, and the school system’s director of finance, Greg Murphy, reminded board members that even though the state requires school boards to review it in January, a lot could change later.

As the Northside Early Childhood Center opens its new doors for the first time today, students will be treated to a mix of new and old.

This state-of-the art school eventually will house the majority of Shelby County Public Schools’ preschool program and the Head Start infant and toddler program for the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative, but it has blended in some of the architecture and features from the building that was opened on this site in 1939.

The Shelby County School Board approved a board meeting schedule Thursday night for the remainder of 2014 that keeps the customary second-and-fourth-Thursday frequency except for
two additional meetings this month to allow the board to make presentations to an accreditation team.

These meetings with AdvancED Accreditation, a national firm employed by the school district to earn accreditation, will be at 10: 30 a.m. Jan. 27 and at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 29.

Superintendent James Neihof previewed for the board the presentation he will provide at those reviews.

As the state embarks on another budget cycle with education funding becoming a highly discussed issue, the state’s school boards are looking for a way to ensure the voices of local educators and community leaders are heard in Frankfort.

The Shelby County Board of Education on Thursday approved an elementary redistricting plan that it had presented to citizens at two previous meetings.

The only change from the original proposal is that students living on Scott Station Road will remain at Painted Stone Elementary School. There was no discussion of the matter at the board meeting Thursday night before it was approved unanimously.

The Shelby County Board of Education on Thursday is scheduled to vote on an elementary redistricting plan that it had explained to citizens during two public meetings.

The district has decided that redistricting, at the elementary level only, is necessary going in to the 2014-15 school year when the new Southside Elementary School opens and can hold another 150 students.

The redistricting eliminates some overcrowding issues at Painted Stone, Simpsonville and Clear Creek, all of which are between 99.5 percent and 109.8 percent occupancy this year.